The Azusa Street revival of 1906 to 1909 Essay -- Religion History

The Azusa Street revival of 1906 to 1909 was an event that popularised the practice of charismatic worship first in the United States and eventually throughout the Christian world. However, representations of the revival in the early years of the 20th century were biased, and distorted the events that occurred. Early believers portrayed the revival as an eschatological narrative in which the power of God came down to earth and revolutionised the church, especially with the gift of tongues. Pentecostal historians later mythologised Azusa Street representing the revival as the birthplace of Pentecostalism. On the other hand, conservatives portrayed the events of the revival as unbiblical and sinful, while secular critics depicted the revival as a phenomenon which was irrational and defied human logic. After the civil war, protestant churches began to ignore the significance of emotional expression in worship. According to historian Thomas Nicole, American churches transformed into ‘dignified, rational, middle class congregations’ which limited emotional expression. In contrast, various fringe groups fought the cold formalism that had developed in American Christianity as they believed that the power of the Holy Spirit would soon move in charismatic power as prophesied in Joel 2:28-32. By 1906, great anticipation had built up in such groups located in Los Angeles as Menzies explains that several congregations held prayer meetings which cried for ‘a Pentecost’ in Los Angeles’. It appears that ministers began to represent Los Angeles as the centre, out of which a charismatic outpouring would inevitably occur. Frank Bartleman for example reported that the people of Los Angeles would soon find themselves ‘in the throes of a mighty... ... after a century ( Kingfield: Sheffield Academic) 1999. Larry Martin, http://www.azusastreet.org/AzusaStreetCartoons.htm, retrieved on 25th may 2009. Lum Clara, Pentecost has come, The Apostolic Faith . 1(1), 1906. Menzies, William, W., Anointed to serve: The Story of The Assemblies of God. (Springfield: Gospel Publishing House). 1971. Nicole Thomas, Pentecostalism, (New York: Harper and Row) 1966. Owens. Robert R, The Azusa street revival ( Lanham: xulan press) 2005. Robeck Cecil M, The Azusa Street Mission and Revival: The Birthplace of the Global Pentecostal Movement. (Nashville: Nelson reference& electronic) 2006. Synan Vinson, The Holiness Pentecostal tradition, Grabd rapids Michigan: Eerdmans, 1971. Turner, William C, Jr, An East Coast celebration of Azusa: theological implications. Journal of Pentecostal Theology 16 (1) 2007, p 32-45